DESCRIBING a player as the best among the rest is always subjective. Surely, it will never be an easy job especially in a country full of talented basketballers.
But Cougars shooting guard, Limbani Yatina, is an exceptional basketballer who deserves recognition in the local game. What makes him the top shooting guard is his versatility and ability to score off a dribble. In short, it is hard to find a weakness in Yatina’s play.
Say what you want about Yatina but he is one of the unstoppable shooting guards the country has ever produced. His shooting abilities make him a complete basketball player. In modern basketball, a good shooting guard should also be able to play for teammates.
The shooting guard should also be a threat in terms of shooting and handling the ball comfortably as he is a secondary point guard. Yatina does that with ease. Born in a family of three, in 1979, Yatina started his basketball career in 1992 while at Nkhotakota Secondary School.
He then moved to Blantyre to join Poly Panthers, playing for them from 1999 to 2001. Yatina then crossed the floor to join Poly Bobcats, featuring for them from 2001 to 2003.
He also played for Chanco Hawks from 2006 to 2007. Yatina also played for Blazers, Falcons and Mimbulu. For many athletes, choosing the best sport is not easy. The same was the case with Yatina.
Yatina just realised his dream as a basketball player because of hard work. He never gave up and had self belief that one day he would be a household name in the basketball fraternity.
“I have always been physically active since I was young, but could not really know what type of sport was best for me. After trying out several sporting disciplines at school through our physical education system, I thought I liked and enjoyed playing the basketball more than the other disciplines,” Yatina said.
The Cougars Captain proved his class during the Bravehearts Invitational Tournament when he guided his side to a surprise victory over Zimbabwean giants, Harare City Hornets, recently.
As a young man, Yatina used to adore Zitto Phillips and Chimwemwe Mlagha on the local scene whereas Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are his favourite on the international stage. In his career, he has managed to lay his hands on the Central Zone Basketball (Cezobal) championship twice.
Last year, Cougars lost to reigning champions, Central Knights through play-offs. For a second consecutive year, Yatina organised a tournament aimed at giving players an opportunity to showcase their skills on an individual level.
“Aside from being a player, my ambition is to continue contributing to the development of the ‘Show n Prove’ One on One Basketball Tournament to a level where it can be competed for at the national level. In general, I want to keep finding means of contributing to the development of basketball in Malawi,” he explained.
According to Yatina, Malawi basketball teams have the potential to shine on the international stage. Usually, Malawian basketball teams struggle in international tournaments.
“I feel that there are a few people who are running their basketball teams professionally. In addition, we still lack corporate sponsorship for basketball in the country. I feel that if we can improve in these areas, local basketball can grow.
“We also do not have enough basketball infrastructure to aid the development of basketball,” he said.
Basketball is one of the most loved sports across the world. In Malawi, the sport almost died a natural death some three years ago. However, the sport is slowly regaining its lost glory.
For the past two years, local basketball teams have been taking part in international tournaments in Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia. Surely players such as Yatina have a role to contribute to basketball revival
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